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Tag: fall colors

  • No threat found after suspicious person report on Guanella Pass

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    CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. — A crowded fall Saturday on Guanella Pass was interrupted after reports of a suspicious person in the area.

    However, Clear Creek County deputies later determined there was no threat to the public after they made contact with the person.

    The sheriff’s office said it received multiple reports of a man wearing camo and a mask and armed with a high-powered rifle.

    Deputies responded and searched the area, later locating the man near Naylor Lake.

    The sheriff’s office said the man was at the lake to fish and was legally carrying a rifle.

    Deputies said they gave the man a courtesy ride back to his vehicle at the trailhead.

    The pass is typically packed on the weekends this time of year with crowds seeking out the fall colors.

    The sheriff’s office thanked those who made the reports, saying, “We appreciate hikers in the area who saw something and said something.”

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  • USA Today Names Roanoke, VA Among Best Places for Fall Colors in U.S.

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    When the leaves begin to change and fall colors take over, few places deliver a more spectacular display than Roanoke, Virginia. USA Today’s 10Best national competition for Best Destination for Fall Colors, Roanoke took an impressive second-place finish among twenty contenders.

    Roanoke sits in a valley surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, with ridgelines and overlooks that explode with reds, oranges, and golds from late September through October.

    Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge

    Walking and biking trails that total more than 1,000 miles, with countless vantage points to take in the season’s fiery palette.

    Local tourism officials say the award supports ongoing efforts to promote a “metro mountain adventure.” The unique combination of urban amenities and mountain wilderness that defines the Roanoke region. Vacationers can spend the morning hiking, the afternoon sampling craft beer, and the evening dining at local restaurants downtown.

    For anyone planning a fall trip to Roanoke, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a must. This iconic drive passes through the Roanoke Valley and has numerous pull-offs for scenic photos. Nearby Peaks of Otter is a classic stop, offering hiking trails and the beautiful Abbott Lake.

    McAfee Knob is one of the most photographed overlooks in the region, especially striking when framed by autumn leaves. Hike up Mill Mountain to see the famous illuminated Roanoke Star and take in sweeping views of the valley drenched in color. For a slower pace, the Roanoke Valley Greenways and its blueways offer gentler paths perfect for quiet walks through the foliage.

    Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge

    Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge

    Back in town, Roanoke’s fall festivals, art walks, and harvest celebrations turn the city into a lively seasonal destination. Go Outside Festival (GO Fest) is a major October highlight, drawing outdoor enthusiasts for a weekend of live music, gear demos, rock climbing walls, beer gardens, and races that celebrate Roanoke’s “metro mountain” identity.

    The Historic City Market, one of the oldest continuously operating markets in Virginia, brims with pumpkins, gourds, mums, and fresh produce during harvest season.

    Roanoke, VA for the Best Fall Colors

    Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge

    Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge

    Mountaintop views, riverside trails, and colorful back roads make Roanoke, Virginia, the perfect place to experience the fall season. Spend an afternoon or a whole weekend and see why this Blue Ridge city earned its spot among the nation’s best destinations for fall color.

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  • Nature’s Kaleidoscope | Show Me Nature Photography

    Nature’s Kaleidoscope | Show Me Nature Photography

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    Today’s post features another focus-stacked image of the recent fall colors at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, in the Missouri Ozarks. As leaf colors began changing colors, it was not unusual to run across a tree with multi-colored leaves, forming a natural kaleidoscope of colors:

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    James Braswell

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  • A View From the Bluffs | Show Me Nature Photography

    A View From the Bluffs | Show Me Nature Photography

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    Today’s post features a couple of images I captured last week while hiking at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, in the Missouri Ozarks.

    Hiking along the bluffs, I ran across a couple of views that showed not only the changing fall colors, but the Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks:

    Coming up … more fall colors from the Missouri Ozarks … such an incredibly colorful change of seasons this year!

    Photographic Equipment Used:

    • Canon 5D Mark 3 camera body
    • Tamron 17-35mm, f/2.8 wide angle lens
    • Bogen 3021 tripod, with ballhead
    • ISO 200
    • Aperture f/22
    • Shutter 1/8 sec. and 1/2 sec.

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    James Braswell

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  • Stacking the Leaves | Show Me Nature Photography

    Stacking the Leaves | Show Me Nature Photography

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    Today’s post features a couple of focus-stacked images I captured last week during peak fall colors around the Lake of the Ozarks, in south-central Missouri.

    Focus-stacking is a technique I really like to employ when capturing close-up images, or macro images. Using a shallow depth of field, I capture multiple images, varying the focusing point on the subject, with each image captured. Then using focus-stacking software (I use HeliconFocus), I stitch all images together. This results in an image that has more depth in focus, while still maintaining a good, out-of-focus background to the image.

    Both of today’s images were captured along a trail in Ha Ha Tonka State Park, located on the southern edge of the Lake of the Ozarks:

    And by moving the tripod just a foot or so, this next image was captured, that gives a little different mood to the scene:

    Photographic Equipment Used:

    • Canon 5D Mark 3 camera body
    • Canon 180mm, f/3.5 macro lens
    • Bogen 3021 tripod, with ballhead
    • ISO 200
    • Aperture f/3.5
    • Shutter 1/90 sec. and 1/125 sec.

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    James Braswell

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  • Nature’s Color Wheel | Show Me Nature Photography

    Nature’s Color Wheel | Show Me Nature Photography

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    Over the past few days I have been photographing the changing fall colors at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, in the Missouri Ozarks. Here are a few of the overall landscape images I have collected. In another post, I will feature some individual and small grouping of leaves. This time of year is always so magical as one hikes the Missouri Ozarks!

    Here are a few of my favorite images:

    Although nice colors were around when these images were captured, peak color was not here for a few more days. Stay tuned for more fall color images from the area.

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    James Braswell

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  • Fall Foliage Welcomes Visitors to Pagosa Springs

    Fall Foliage Welcomes Visitors to Pagosa Springs

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    As fall settles over Pagosa Springs, leaves drop after their seasonal transformation; vibrant autumn hues decorate trees and leave lasting impressions of beauty. These breathtaking Colorado sights are worth seeing, both on local hikes and drives.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Sep 5, 2017


    PAGOSA SPRINGS, Colo., September 5, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​Surrounded by 2.5 million acres of wilderness and national forest areas in southwest Colorado, Pagosa Springs is marked by distinct seasons. As autumn approaches and temperatures begin to shift, the leaves begin their transformation as well; the tall-standing greenery will morph into hues of reds and yellows and fall to the ground.

    “Pagosa Springs is beautiful all year round,” Visit Pagosa Director Jennifer Green said. “There’s definitely magic in the fall, since the leaves changing can’t be beat.”

    Pagosa Springs is beautiful all year round. There’s definitely magic in the fall, since the leaves changing can’t be beat.

    Jennifer Green, Director of Visit Pagosa

    To celebrate autumn, Pagosa Springs will host the 31st annual ColorFest Weekend, complete with hot air balloons, music, libations, food, and more. The festival begins on Friday, Sept. 15 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 17.

    Friday, Sept. 15

    • 6-9 p.m., Town Park Athletic Field: Passport to Pagosa Food & Wine Fest
      For $45 per person, festival goers can enjoy wine, beer, and food from local businesses, in addition to entertainment. Purchase tickets online here.

    Saturday, Sept. 16

    • 7-10 a.m., San Juan River at the GGP Site: Breakfast with Balloons
      Hosted by the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership, the second annual ColorFest Breakfast with Balloons will raise money for the GGP Growing Domes. The event includes a gourmet meal with champagne, a view of the hot balloon ascension, and music by world-class saxophonist Bob Hemenger. Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for children. 
       
    • 8 a.m., Downtown Pagosa: Mass Balloon Ascension
      Hot air balloons will fill the sky overhead Pagosa Springs, for all to enjoy.
       
    • 8 a.m., Town Park: 5k Color Run/Walk
      ​As balloons fly overhead, brilliant colors will follow participants in the annual color run/walk, raising money for Rise Above Violence, serving victims of domestic violence. Participants wear white, before getting doused with brightly colored chalk throughout the race at color stations.
       
    • 4-8 p.m., Town Park: ColorFest Music and Micro Brew Festival
      In addition to live music, this festival features breweries from throughout Colorado and Northern New Mexico competing for several ColorFest awards, including “People’s Choice” and “Brewer’s Choice.” Tickets are $10 for general admission, $25 for a souvenir glass and beer tasting.

    Sunday, Sept. 17

    • 8 a.m., Uptown Pagosa, near Pinon Lake: Mass Balloon Ascension
      The 2017 ColorFest will conclude with the final ascension of hot air balloons over Pagosa Springs.

    From mid-September to early October, Pagosa Springs is a flawless portrait of fall vibrancy. While many Colorado mountain towns experience short fall seasons, Pagosa Springs’ large elevation range (7,000 to 12,000 feet) provides a lengthy window for autumn sightseeing. These incredible seasonal views welcome visitors, offering breathtaking mountain scenery through popular hikes and drives.

    Hikes

    • Opal Lake. Opal Lake Hike is a moderately easy 1.2 miles and takes about 45 minutes to complete. The trailhead traverses across an open meadow, with gorgeous high country autumn sights. Hikers can see several beaver dams, a mountain face, and the mineral deposits which give Opal Lake its milky color. The most impressive during the autumn season, however, is the wooded hillside, complete with a color-changing aspen grove, which surrounds visitors with beauty through one of the world’s largest connected living organisms. ​
       
    • Anderson Trail. This hike is about 9 miles in length from the trailhead to its junction with the Fourmile Trail. It crosses easily through steep terrain, and goes across the eastern shoulder of Pagosa Peak. There’s a 2,349-foot elevation gain, which gives hikers a mountainous view of transforming colors from above. There are rock formations, aspen trees, and expansive fall views; the trail is open to hiking and horseback riding, and primitive camping spots are available throughout.

    Drives

    • Plumtaw – Piedra Loop. This 35-mile round trip begins on the Forest Service access road named Plumtaw, beginning in Pagosa Springs. The road cruises through the back country and ascends in elevation, providing spectacular fall foliage and vista views, before meeting the Upper Piedra Road and heading toward Williams Creek Lake. The lake, known for its incredible fishing, is a scenic high mountain reservoir surrounded by gorgeous scenery. Travelers can keep driving on Piedra Road to return to town, noticing open pastures, hills and grand vistas.
       
    •  Blanco Basin. This scenic drive is perfect for the height of autumn, when the leaves of aspen trees are bright and flaming. Visitors begin by heading south on Highway 84 for eight miles, before turning off onto Blanco Basin. Continuing on this road, visitors can experience views of the Continental Divide, Oil Mountain, and Square Top Mountain — ideal for wide-open spaces and tufts of color.​
       
    • Wolf Creek Pass – East Fork Road. Head to Wolf Creek Pass — a scenic treat in all seasons — for vast valley and easy access waterfall views. With several overlooks along the way, this route has a reaching view of Pagosa Springs in its entirety, beautifully decorated in fall hues.

    About Pagosa Springs
    Surrounded by the Weminuche Wilderness and the San Juan National Forest amid the majestic San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado, Pagosa Springs offers visitors a rich geological and cultural history to explore. Known for its world-famous hot springs, “Pagosah” is the Southwestern Ute word for “healing waters.” With its official designation as the “Deepest Hot Springs Aquifer in the World,” the Mother Spring fuels three downtown hot springs locations. In addition, the soaring cliffs, ragged peaks, magical alpine pools, undisturbed wilderness, and cascading rivers reveal a dramatic geological history that invites voyagers, young and old, to venture into Pagosa Springs’ backcountry. For more information, please visit www.visitpagosasprings.com. For the online media room, go to https://pagosaspringsco.newswire.com.

    MEDIA CONTACTS: 

    Jennifer Green, Director
    Visit Pagosa Springs
    105 Hot Springs Blvd., PO Box 1859
    Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
    970-903-9728
    sales@visitpagosasprings.com

    or

    Vicky Nash 
    Resort Trends, Inc. – tourism communications 
    970-948-4923
    vicky@resorttrends.com

    Source: Pagosa Springs

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